Musk wants the record straight. While showing screenshots from his attempt to cancel his Tesla Roadster reservation and reclaim his $50,000 deposit, following former OpenAI collaborator Sam Altman announcing he was quitting Facebook’s board in light of the company’s perseverance, Musk jumped on X to be 100% clear that his money was “returned within 24 hours.”
The subtext was unmistakable: no matter how angry and public Musk was regarding Tesla’s relationship with OpenAI, he made things right, and he did it quickly.
Here’s how the exchange kicked off. Altman put up “a story in three parts,” as one VC described it: a provisional 2018 Roadster reservation, a present attempt to “cancel reservation,” and an email that rejected his request for a refund.
He was said to have been excited about the vehicle but claimed that more than seven years of waiting had eroded his patience.
Musk countered with two assertions: his familiar swipe at OpenAI’s erstwhile nonprofit status and a coda, Altman’s thread’s “act 4,” explaining that the situation was resolved: the deposit was refunded in 22 hours. The refund detail is something Musk obviously wants to reiterate.
The second-generation Tesla Roadster’s rollout began with sensational claims — sub-2-second 0–60 mph times and an all-electric GT vehicle — but production has been delayed several times. Musk has hinted at a healthier new Roadster to be released later this year, keeping desire high for early adopters.
Tesla deposit policies and customer expectations today
Those supporters also included customers who put down sizable deposits. Tesla’s Roadster reservation page has traditionally featured refundable payments until a final purchase agreement, and the $50,000 mentioned by Altman matches what many reservation holders reported.
The process always takes place over the Tesla account portal, but the reality of bounced emails occurs when buyers revert to legacy contacts or older support channels.
The pre-order phenomenon in the EV industry has been defined by waiting and ever-evolving schedules, from supertrucks to halo sports cars. Regardless of brand, deposits have served as a means for automakers to monitor demand without locking in expenses too soon.
Consumer advocates often emphasize that the capability to refund the deposit has to do with the delay, and Tesla is no exception.
Musk and Altman met on the OpenAI project that they co-founded before becoming polarized.
With Musk publicly criticizing OpenAI’s change of policies, he has taken the stance that it has deviated from what it was originally a nonprofit to do. On the other hand, OpenAI was converted to a capped-profit public benefit corporation in nonprofit control.
The two companies have become operational rivals. Musk set up xAI, which directly competes with the latest model’s development. xAI has since sued OpenAI and Apple for monopoly practices, an allegation they have denied in public statements. Thus, customer experience is an opportunity for these two giants to flex their muscles over who the clients stay with.
Public responses highlight service speed and transparency
Altman’s thread focuses on a friction point that will be familiar to many buyers: how do I cancel, and how fast is the refund process? Musk’s response, emphasizing a 24-hour turnaround, recasts the narrative as a story of operational competence instead of delay-induced frustration.
Research by firms like J.D. Power has long established that a quick response to issues of ownership and service is among the top EV loyalty drivers. Academic work on social media management of negative feedback arrives at the same conclusions, with the rapid resolution of a complaint significantly improving the way a consumer views a company.
Musk’s public focus on the snag, therefore, is undoubtedly a clear public relations recital.
Two things can always be true for the thousands of people who hold Roadster reservations – the vehicle is late, and refunds are made when people cancel.
Either way, consumers think about halo items with specs and plans that are constantly changing, and viewers will consider the same two figures: how early Tesla can ship and how it handles when shoppers rethink their initial deposits.
If Tesla this year discloses a renovated Roadster, expectations will certainly need to be reset. This would include finalized roadmap specs, clearer steps for development, and details that are repeated on how reservations and reimbursements function.
No unhappy customers are satisfied, but clear expectations on those dynamics will maintain spirits high for enthusiasts at least until they acquire first key fobs, keycards, or the like.
Musk’s point, emphasized by the other team he mentioned: Sam Altman got his cash quickly.
Thus, beyond the secondary sting and broader AI competition, the event elucidates a far more daily and crucial truth – when postponements comprise a few years, the promise of ripping 0–60 times is as crucial as the reliability and speed of a refund process.